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The new superintendent for Pickerington schools won’t have to move far for his job.

Last night, the board hired Rob L. Walker, who has spent 11 years at Lancaster schools,
including the last three as superintendent. Both districts are in Fairfield County.

He told the gathering of about 30 parents, students and staff members that he is familiar with
Pickerington and its success.

“Being an ‘Excellent With Distinction’ district doesn’t come by chance, circumstance or luck,”
Walker said, referring to the district’s rating on the state report card.

Walker is stepping into a bigger district: Pickerington has about 10,300 students, according to
last year’s state figures. Lancaster has nearly 6,000.

He replaces Karen Mantia, who resigned in August to head the Lakota school district in suburban
Cincinnati. Assistant Superintendent Jim Sotlar, who also applied for the superintendent’s job, has
been serving as interim since then.

Walker, 56, officially starts Aug. 1 and will be paid an annual salary of $135,000 — about
$9,000 less than what Mantia earned. The board will reimburse up to $8,500 in relocation expenses
and provide him with a $500 monthly car allowance.

He currently earns $119,500 a year in Lancaster.

Walker did not submit an application when the board started its superintendent search last fall.
The board approached potential candidates, including Walker, who at the time was in the middle of a
levy campaign to help build new elementary schools in Lancaster.

“I didn’t want to shortchange Lancaster while honoring the request to be interviewed here,”
Walker said.

Residents in Lancaster turned down a $61 million bond issue and a 0.5-mill improvements levy for
five new elementaries in November, but the same request was narrowly approved in March.

Walker met with the Pickerington board in February “to gauge mutual interest” and was
interviewed again as one of the board’s finalists.

Walker said the decision to leave Lancaster was “extremely difficult,” but he’s excited about
his opportunity in Pickerington.

He looks forward to meeting the staff, being in the schools and becoming a part of the
community.

“I can’t be a man in the office,” he said. “I have to be a partner in the district.”

Board President Lori Sanders said Walker brings 34 years of experience in education to the
district.

“He had a variety of experiences at the administrative level,” she said, noting his work as
superintendent, assistant superintendent and director of human resources at Lancaster.

Kris Kern, girls volleyball coach for Pickerington North High School, worked with Walker in
Lancaster. He called Walker a tremendous leader who will take the district well into the future
because of his vision and commitment to students.

“I’m really excited for the community,” Kern said. “A lot of families don’t know him yet, but
they will.”